Eichler homes rediscovery: when suburban was modern & livable
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- Опубликовано: 11 янв 2015
- Builder Joseph Eichler brought high-end modern design to suburban subdivisions. From 1950 through the mid-seventies his company built 11,000 affordable architect-designed homes in California.
Steve Jobs credited the builder as a design inspiration for Apple. ““Eichler did a great thing,” he told his biographer Walter Isaacson, “I love it when you can bring really great design and simple capability to something that doesn't cost much.”
It all began in 1942 when Eichler, after living in a rented Frank Lloyd Wright home in the San Francisco Bay Area, commissioned Lloyd Wright disciple Robert Anshen to design something similar for himself. His $100,000 home never got built and instead, the two began work on $10,000 modern tract homes with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, skylights, and radiant-heated floors.
Over the following decades, Eichler’s homes became a large part of the “California modern” movement and today many have rediscovered the elegant simplicity of Eichler living.
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I've always like the houses that brought the outdoors in. Very simple and clean design.
Moral of the story: GENIUS GRANTS IMORTALITY. Absolutely fabulous and timeless design. I think I've found my dream house design The atrium deign is EVERYTHING!!
This is basically my dream house. Why more houses aren't built with courtyards and glass ceilings/walls is beyond me. Especially in cities where they may not have as much space for a backyard. Courtyard is perfect if you have pets too! They can hang out outside and not escape.
They need a lot of love, money and they leak and are cold, and hot, but worth the effort and are pretty damn cool looking. It was a really fascinating architectural concept. -Wish I’d bought one ages ago. Cheers.
Love Eichler’s and he was concerned that all races were able to buy homes in his developments. Not much is published about that. He had a great vision and was a good man. I know in Southern California that the homes in Los Angeles county are under the Mills Act. If the Eichler home was not changed on the exterior the homeowners get a very large discount on their yearly real estate taxes. It is important to preserve such wonderful architecture.
I am just discovering what Mid Century Modern is all about. I am in love with the designs. I restored an old 1912 craftsman home and that is what I live in. But I am wanting a change. My dog, cat, wife and I could be very happy in one of these homes. Just wish there were some in my neck of the woods.
I love the Eichler homes, but the time when they were actually affordable is long past. I wish someone would do a reboot of that concept and make a truly affordable modern home. The key is keeping it small, but really making it luxurious in terms of design and materials. The only thing like that which I'm aware of is Rocio Romero's cool kit home called the LV home. That's more of an evolved ultra-modern style, but it reminds me of the Eichler spirit.
I was born and raised in one in Walnut Creek from the 50's. I miss it.
These remind me a lot of the open designed container homes, with the atrium area in the center and such. These are great designs.
I've never really heard of these houses, but man, I have really fallen in love. The last two houses (I think, I got a little lost) just seemed amazing. I think I'm going to research into these a bit more, as I am just super in love with the look and feel of them!
I grew up in an Eichler house, Diamond Heights in San Francisco. I remember it was very comfortable and logical. You could have privacy or be with everyone else with very little effort. It was very light even though the side walls were solid. There were several skylights on the upper floor. The atrium was very nice and private, it was just right for an urban garden. All those windows were single-pane glass. It would not be practical in the Midwest, but in Northern California it was ideal. These people all remodeled the bathrooms and kitchens. The houses were very amenable to modifications. The finishing was not fancy, but it was modern and attractive. My folks paid $42,000 in 1963. I imagine that house is worth close to a million now.
I would have the atrium full of vegetable plants and miniature fruit trees. Beautiful
Way ahead of his time awesome bringing the outdoors in!
What I like about the first house is that the kids have taken over. It is a very kid friendly concept. And I also love how the trees just seem to be part of the architecture. I live in Scarborough, just next to Toronto. Unfortunately this kind of house wouldn't work here. It gets much too cold for this concept to be practicle. Too bad, because I really like it!
Perfect houses. Thanks you so much Kirsten I have always loved Eichlers.
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Nice. I like the inside outside theme. Sort of like a castle with the courtyard in the middle. Gives me ideas for the house I plan to build
I just love the openness!
This brings back so many memories. My best friend lived in one of these houses in Castro Valley. Awesome house.
I'm glad that you visited this house. I think if I hadn't become a teacher, I would have gone into residential architecture.